BARF Home Improvement: Installing Stairs

[tzrider]

Looking good!

 

[HappyHighwayman]

My helpers have been obsessing over the edge work for the final step for 2 hours and working on it instead of finishing the easy planks lol. I'm paying them in food.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Having a hard time finishing this edge with the spare bits

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Next step matching the laminate for the landings

 

[tzrider]

Having a hard time finishing this edge with the spare bits

The only way to make that work is to miter the angle. You’ll want to measure the angles at the edge of the step and bisect them so both sides of the miter are cut at the same angle. That’s the only way to get the bullnose to match on both pieces.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Thanks! Gonna get a Miter box

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Went to get some Laminate floor samples

Bottom one seems to match the best but it's ok of stock lol (Home Depot). It's their house brand. Got home an ordered another box of a different one they're really cheap and I can easily return them if the color is too off.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Can't really match any stain to the laminate so just going dark on the downstairs stairs. One day I can refinish the middle to match closer.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Downstairs are going great

 

[HappyHighwayman]

With the help of a miter box and a Japanese style wood saw my neighbor lent us we finally frankensteined an ok edge.



Downstairs boards are stained you can see the difference between 1 coat and 3 coats plus time.

 

[tzrider]

That looks way more than ok, Jordan. Nice work!

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Thanks I purposely didn't do a closeup.I will fill it in a little with wood putty but it's strong!

 

[Sharxfan]

HH, You did a pretty good job on that bottom stair tread. Don't fall into the overly critical trap that comes when you do a job. I do it all the time and it drives me nuts. People other than yourself will only see a job well done.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Thanks!

So the only issues now are aesthetic I have kind of have a mishmash of colors. The bottom stairs don't match the main level, and the main level doesn't match the upstairs, and I got them from a company that only does treads, not laminate flooring, so I need to match that as close as possible for the landings....

However, the main level is wood so one day I could refinish it to closer match the stain of the downstairs, and then I'd have two levels, downstairs/main level and upstairs/upper level.

Wish I could start over knowing what I know now

Could also leave them white and get rugs



Also I am an amateur, it's for my own pleasure, and not for resale

 

[bpw]

Embrace the mismatch and paint the landing some interesting color or use a nice looking but mismatched laminate?

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Embrace the mismatch and paint the landing some interesting color or use a nice looking but mismatched laminate?

I just got some laminate from Home Depot that matches pretty close so I'm gonna go with that.

I realize I need to get two stair nose pieces too.

 

[Sharxfan]

That's close enough for Gubment work right there.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

The stained wood still feels sticky ish after 24 hours will give it another 24 before polyurethane.

I ordered 2 nosings for the stairs identical laminate. I will return all the extra crap I ordered and never used. This is coming out well under quoted amount plus I get to keep the tools after

I look forward to working on my laminate floor trimming skills.

 

[tzrider]

Wish I could start over knowing what I know now

You can. :laughing

 

[HappyHighwayman]

I meant before cutting the lips off the stairs